Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney.

No. 943.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your information a copy of my note, No. 135, of this date, to the minister of foreign affairs, regarding spoliations at Harpoot, which I trust will meet your approval. A simple announcement of the unsatisfactory character of the note of the foreign minister seemed to be most proper at present.

The detention of the wives of naturalized Americans and the imprisonment of our citizens at Aleppo have engrossed my attention recently, but a longer delay in making known your opinion of the foreign minister’s note was not deemed proper.

I have, etc.,

A. W. Terrell.
[Inclosure in No. 943.]

Mr. Terrell to Tevfik Pasha.

Sir: The Department of State has returned a note from His Excellency Mavroyeni Bey, dated July 11, containing your reply to Mr. Olney’s note of May 29, regarding the destruction of American property at Harpoot and the conduct of Turkish authorities there in connection therewith.

The note of your excellency does not meet the circumstantial evidence which shows how the buildings were set on fire, and that property of the missionaries was taken from their dwellings and openly used by the Turkish soldiery.

I must, therefore, regard the reply of your excellency as unsatisfactory. It can not be considered as answering the just demand of the United States Government for reparation and the signal rebuke of those officers to whose negligence and connivance the original act of incendiarism and the subsequent robbery were attributable.

The former notes concerning burning and spoliation at Marash which I have had the honor to receive from your excellency are equally unsatisfactory.

Receive, etc.,

A. W. Terrell.